How to plan competitions

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MissJessica

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Sounds dumb but for the first time in my life I have horse transport & it's been in my life three months!
It's been great, we've tried our hand at lots & really enjoyed ourselves but now I want some focus.
I love dressage & wondered whether I should go trailblazers route then affiliate, because I compete unaffiliated & my scores are like roller coasters yet I film my tests & see a steady improvement & quite consistent test riding - I feel other than an outing, we get little from unaffiliated.
Just wanted some clue to how everyone else does it? Plans it? Sets goals etc?
Thank you.
 
I set goals for my eventing and work backwards from them, looking at what competitions would be good in a run up, some venues are easier than others XC course wise so if I need a challenging run then I know where to go and my mare has venues she seems to perform better at so I plan to head to those and then look at back ups if something goes wrong. I then plan my horses fitness around these prep runs.
TBH this year I just wanted to get to the Bicton 1* in August and had an unexpected trip to the Gatcombe festival (I wasn't even aware there was a class she could qualify for so the email saying I had was a bit of a shock!). It threw out my prep in the run up to Bicton as I needed her to be at her peak 2 weeks earlier than planned but there was no way I was going to turn down the chance to compete at The festival.
If you want to go affiliated then go for it!
 
Llee94 thank you :)
And well done for your incredible season.
I think I need to go for something as you say, then work backwards. The last three months have been fun but a little unidirectional & I feel I need focus. Esp coming into winter.
 
I sort of did what you're currently planning this year. I knew I would join BD, but didn't have much hope of achieving anything, so also decided to start out on the Trailblazer's Q route at elem, and qualified 2nd rounds easily. Then started doing nov with BD, first outing was a bit rubbish but then had 2 super outings & qualified for Regionals :o I decided to go to Trailblazer's anyway as I'd never done anything like that & thought it would be good for my gelding to do 3 tests on consecutive days in that atmosphere, BUT it then clashed with my local Regionals & basically, I ended up spending waaaaaay more than I could have done with spending! We then also qualified for elem AF as a bonus, but by going training so no extra points. Dan's scores also go up & down a lot which was why I didn't really know how we'd do, also we'd never done BD or competed at elem before!
It made the year feel a bit hectic & rather expensive especially as I don't have transport, but I feel like I have a clear idea for next year now & will be better prepared! I am not worried about having a 'perfect record' though so if I do miserably at a few BD comps, well, no worries. Trailblazer's was a FAB event but wouldn't give me much of a challenging feel in the run up now (Q was quite easy) & it was very expensive by the time all costs were factored in. :)
 
Like you, I've only just got transport (woo hoo!)

Up to now I haven't had much of a plan, I just went out when I could get a day off & hire a lorry.

I compete BD and now definitely have more focus. I'm off to an area festival next week then continue our attempt to qualify for winter regionals.

After that I think I'll scale back a bit and concentrate on lessons with a monthly trip for a show, but I'm planning to add in some hunting and hacking in different places to make the most of out newfound freedom :)
 
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I'd say crack on & go BD then :) Certainly given me a kick up the butt & made me really motivated to improve! You're starting at the right time to get used to the new structure at least!!
 
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